Please respect the fact that this is a humble attempt from my side to record some recipes, handed over to my family through grandmas & great-grandmas and also share some favourite dishes of my family, including the one I married into. All the content in this blog (text and photographs) are mine, unless noted otherwise. Copying, re-writing, republishing, redistributing or altering any text or photograph or part of the text, for any commercial or non-commercial purposes, without my written consent is strictly prohibited. Users with non-commercial purposes may link to the page or a specific post, but not allowed to reproduce or alter the content( text and photographs) without prior written permission. Please ASK first at shncjj@gmail.com. Kindly use comments section for any recipe clarifications and e-mails will not be entertained in this regard.

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Monday, April 28, 2008

Looks like it’s been a long time since I made a chat with my virtual friends……..a long time since I really sat back and scribbled few things here with a relaxed state of mind. I have been too pre-occupied with our relocation and then settling in the new place and just when I was trying to get accustomed to the new kitchen, I tired to squeeze in a huge project like this one, just out of some strange passion and found myself cooking and typing those recipes, leaving me more exhausted and drained for the next two weeks which in a way de-toxed myself from that obsession with this teeny–weeny cyber space of mine! Finally I feel re-charged. And yes, finally we re settled at the new place! As much as I miss our old house where we grew and matured as a couple, that small town where I enjoyed snow-cones in summer, strolling the pavements along with CJJ and that international store with abundance of seafood which sometimes gave me a glance of sardines, we re trying to make sweet memories here, filling the place with more fun and laughter and yes, its finally beginning to smell like a home…that overwhelming smell of fresh paint is gone! :)

Also it‘s been a long time since I have taken up a tag :) Recently, Mathew, who ‘sparks’ as bachelor ambrosia tagged me and here it goes…:)

1. LAST MOVIE YOU SAW IN A THEATER: 27 Dresses. Don’t develop any wrong impression here that CJJ willingly takes me to all chick-flick movies……It was a quid-pro-quo for 10000 B.C but I cheated in the end: D

2. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING?A boring one to brush up my profession……I might probably re-name the book as ‘Sleep Inducer’ or ‘Your ticket to Day-Dreaming’!!

3. FAVORITE BOARD GAME?Monopoly. I still get excited thinking of building hotels at the Mayfair (we used to play the London version)

4. FAVORITE MAGAZINE? No favorites…..though currently I have a subscription for Martha Stewart Living and American Cake Decorating

6. FAVORITE SOUND? Sound of flowing water on a bed of river rocks,Sound of waves,Church bells, Whistle from the milk-cooker…..there is something nostalgic about it and I miss it!

7. WORST FEELING IN THE WORLD?When I feel helpless having no control over the unlucky things happening to my close ones

8. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU THINK OF WHEN YOU WAKE?Usually I don’t think of anything as CJJ wakes me up in the most beautiful way with a cup of tea! Again do not frame any wrong impression here as that’s the only time he enters the kitchen and does something!

9. FAVORITE FAST FOOD PLACE?There was a small restaurant near my home from where my father used to get us Porotta, beef curry & Peas Masala during my childhood days….……I don’t know if it was the best I ever tasted but it is close to my heart due to various reasons associated with it…….but they closed that place during my teens. In US of A, it is Panera Bread

10. FUTURE CHILD'S NAME?It took me two days to finalize a name for this blog…so you can imagine how challenging it can be for naming the child!!!

11. FINISH THIS STATEMENT. "IF I HAD A LOT OF MONEY I'D...?12. FINISH THIS STATEMENT, "IF I HAD THE TIME I WOULD .....

Since time and money are so related, let me club these two….Firstly, I would sponsor research expenses for inventing THE medicine for removing cholesterol related issues, so we need not torture the logical and reasoning side of brain to control our frequent food temptations. Secondly, backpack around the world enjoying the local flavors, peeking into the cultural heritage of the place. Sponsor education for more children…….take up a professional course in residential planning and home interiors……...lastly, build a small house in a beautiful small town in Kerala, on the banks of a river, with a huge estate in the back where CJJ can do his rubber /poultry / fish farm business!!!! My dream place and house is something like the one in “Unnikale oru Kadha Parayam” movie!

13. DO YOU DRIVE FAST?Hmm…well ….it depends on your definition of ‘fast’. :-) 99% I am a decent driver but sometimes these US state highways forces me to accelerate a bit ;-)

14.DO YOU SLEEP WITH A STUFFED ANIMAL? Yes, I sleep with one ever since I got married : P But pal is trying to loose weight and stuffing is shrinking these days….. :)

15. STORMS-COOL OR SCARY?All of the above!

16. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CAR? If what they is right, “after marriage , its two bodies, one soul and one bank account”, I shared a Corolla with CJJ but unfortunately we lost our buddy last year after a road accident ……I miss ‘him’ a lot, though I love our new Jetta!

17. FAVORITE DRINK?Water with a slice of lemon

18. DO YOU EAT THE STEMS ON BROCCOLI?Nope.

19. IF YOU COULD DYE YOUR HAIR ANY COLOR, WHAT WOULD BE YOUR CHOICE? Black, considering the growing number of gray hairs here and there!!

20. NAME ALL THE DIFFERENT CITIES/TOWNS YOU HAVE LIVED IN.Queen of Arabian Sea, Capital city of Tamilnadu, Capital city of Hoosier state, US and the current one

21. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH?Again, no favorites here. India Vs Pakistan match excites me if I have the right company, my brother or CJJ ….same with tennis and American Football (Only if Colts are playing!) (Btw, I still don’t understand why they call it football when they throw the ball with their hands!!!)

22. ONE NICE THING ABOUT THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU.A nice young guy hiding under a ‘Komban Meesa’ with a special knack of making everyone feel special :)

23. WHAT'S UNDER YOUR BED?Angels!

24. WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE BORN AS YOURSELF AGAIN?Hmm….yes, if it is with some modification and improvements and if my family and CJJ is willing to paddle the life with me. I doubt the second part of that statement!!

25. MORNING PERSON, OR NIGHT OWL?Neither. I need to sleep well.

26. OVER EASY, OR SUNNY SIDE UP?Sunny side up

27. FAVORITE PLACE TO RELAX?At home!

28. FAVORITE PIE?Can I re-frame this question as favourite Payasam/Pradhaman? If yes, Parippu Pradhaman and Palada Payasam. If not, I’m not a pie person.

Mutton Fry / Aattirachi Olathiyathu is another favourite of non-vegetarian population of Kerala. Mutton is tastier than beef as well as expensive too. Curried or roasted or fried, it is ‘delicious’ when cooked with exotic spices and fresh herbs. This is my mother’s recipe and one of the many things I miss most about her cooking. Let me share this tasty, spicy and aromatic meat preparation with you.

Ingredients: (Approx.)To Pressure cook:

1 lb fresh mutton with bones (around ½ kg) , cubed and washed

4 Indian green chillies, slit opened lengthwise

1 tbsp ginger finely chopped

1 ½ tbsp garlic finely chopped

1 ½ cups big onion, roughly chopped (around 1 large big onion)

Salt to taste

To Sauté:

½ cup red-small pearl onions, thinly sliced

2-3 Indian green chillies, slit opened lengthwise

4 tsp coriander powder

1 ½ tsp chilly powder

¼ tsp turmeric powder

Masala Powder(recipe follows)

2 sprigs of curry leaves

½ cup small coconut slices/’Thengakothu’ (Optional)

Salt to taste

2 ½ tbsp coconut oil

To Make the Masala Powder:

1 tbsp fennel seeds/’Perinjeerakam’

6-8 cinnamon sticks of 1 inch length

1 cardamom pod

2 cloves

½ tbsp black peppercorns

Directions:

Marinate the cubed pieces of meat with finely chopped ginger, garlic, green chilly, big onion and salt for about 10-15 minutes and then pressure cook until meat is cooked well.

Grind the whole spices mentioned under the ‘Masala Powder’ section to make a fine powdered masala.

In a large shallow pan, heat the oil and sauté thinly sliced small onions and green chillies , in low flame, until it starts to turn transparent. Tear off some curry leaves and add the coconut slices, ‘thengakothu’ to this. Now, add coriander powder and sauté for about 10 minutes, in very low heat, stirring continuously, until the spice powder is roasted well with small onion and its raw smell is gone; then add turmeric powder and chilly powder and again sauté for around 10 minutes, in very low heat, without burning the spices, stirring continuously; this is a very important stage as it sets the ground for the taste of the entire dish. Now add the masala powder (keep a pinch or two aside for the final sprinkling) and blend well with the roasted masala. At the stage add the meat and very little water and stir well, coating the meat evenly with the roasted masala base and cook covered and bring to a boil. (Note: If pressure cooking has produced some water from the meat, then there is no need to add extra water.) Now remove the lid, and stir well; do a taste-test and adjust the salt; then in low flame, roast the meat, stirring occasionally, until it is dried and roasted to brown colour, as in the picture above. Just two minutes before turning off the heat, add some more curry leaves and sprinkle a pinch or two of masala powder, kept aside earlier which leaves the dish with a wonderful aroma of fresh curry leaves and spices.

Serve warm with rice orPalappam (Laced pancakes), chappathi or porotta (Indian flat breads). This dish attains its real flavour after a couple of hours from cooking and tastes the best, the next day!!

53 comments:

Anonymous
said...

I have been lurking around for a while. The football question made me write. It is a foot long...hence football:) let me add...this is all I know about the game, so I couldnt help but share my 2 cents here;) Good tag BTW.

I think my favorite response is #14. There's nothing like cuddling up with a loved one. :)

I'm so happy to hear you're settling in and that the smell of paint is gone (that's horrible, isn't it?) Wishing you many cheerful mornings, beautiful meals, and peaceful nights' sleep in your new home, Shn. The angels under the bed must help with the last one, huh?

Welcome back Shn.... Glad you are settling into the new place... I love the look of the mutton fry... and nice read too :) I catch all the chic flicks with my girlfriends, Siv will take all the fun out of a silly movie with the sarcastic comments... :)

sound of flowing water on a bed of river rocks...love that..very soothing i must say..would love to have some mini arrangement of that sorts in my dream home..and a "unnikkale oru kathaprayam" setting..wow..i think every man wants to be a shepherd at heart..sad that it looks so unreal now..

and thanx for the nice words..i am feeling special now!!;-D

pinee Mutton fry is going to my next try for sure..was wondering always it was not in your list till now...I have been having just mutton curry till now and this is sure gonna be a welcome change..and we get to buy fresh mutton from a shop just across the road from home..though expensive than the hormone injected frozen ones, it taste heavenly inspite of rookie cooking techniques..

nice to see you coming back with a bang...and yeah hope the palukaachu and all went fine at the new home.

Mathew, People who makes yummy biryani, that too layered ones, at the first trial itself should not call themselves a rookie, thats a disgrace to many like me who started with blunders:))) I couldnt post mutton recipes as I was not sure if they were selling mutton or lamb meat and by the time I found a place for fresh mutton, it was time for us to move from there, and this was photographed at the last week of our stay there and at the new place,there isnt a shop like that either :( I envy u. hmm...paalukaachal with just two of us in our vaadaka veedu , went well :D 'house owner' aakumbo vilikkam , varanam ...:)) btw, have u checked those tabletop meditaion fountains ? Its quite handy compact ones..I have one and its really good, especially with a soothing music and dim light :)

Swati, yeah...that was pure coincidence :)

Lissie, ohh really ? Where re u now ?

Arundathi, thanks so much :)

notyet100,yeah...its really good for such times especially with a bowl of rasam.....How re u feeling now ? Hope u re better!

Cilantro, thank you :)

Kalai, thanks dear :)) you re full of enthusiasm :)

Sandeepa, hehehhe.....it was a long one :)) this was photographed at our last place...here in this godforsaken place, I havent found a place where I can get fresh mutton :)

Macadamia, I really wish you like the taste.....mm...waiting for your feedback :)

Jyothsna, okei...nice to know that you re in good spirits....yeah...take your time and come recharged :)

Asha, Hugs to you too :) Nice to see you blogging again....:)

Anuzi, hahah....so u re making it this weekend ? invite me as well :)

Mallugirl,:))))))))))))

Vani, yes, that was a surprise....thanks a lot :) Hows ur lil one?

Zareena, hope it satisfies your palate :)

Padmaja, ohh...pls dont say sorry.....I should thank you for dropping by even with all your busy schedule....:)

Purnima...thank you :) WOnder if I confused you...its a new rental apartment at a different state...:)

Again thank you all......for showing so much of closeness and support...never imagined virtual interactions could bring in so much of personal element !!!

Shn,mutton fry looks great,but I strongly disagree with the statement,'it's tastier than beef!'Achayanmar sammathikkilla..hehe...pavam cjj-ye veruthe vidaruthe....:))ofcoz u can take nisha to chick-flick movies...will give a great company:P

I just tried dis out now... it came out so well that i cant help myself from going to the kitchen and pikin up one by one... i wonder if anythn would be left when my hubby gets back home.... :) thanks for the recipe!!

Asohan, sorry for the late reply, i think i missed your comment, only yesterday I realised I havent replied to you....if you dont have pressure cooker, you do a regular stove top cooking in a sauce pot just like you make chicken curry. goat meat takes more time to cook .

The pressure cooker is whistling away as I type this - trying this recipe right now - I've never tried a mutton recipe before, came across yours and thought this would fit the bill perfectly...can't wait!